Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research

Ep. 4: The Best Deeds on Their Behalf | For Those Left Behind

If the dead could speak, what would they ask us to do for them? What are the prescribed deeds that we are to do on their behalf?

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Giving charity on behalf of the deceased

If your loved one that has passed away could speak, they would ask you to do good deeds on their behalf. They would ask you to give charity. They need good deeds made on their behalf more than money spent on a funeral, celebration of life or tombstone, because those will not benefit them in the grave. It is good deeds, according to the Prophet ﷺ, that will give glad tidings to the righteous souls as beautiful visitors in their grave. This is more pleasing.

Here are 5 things to do for the dead when they pass away:

1. Repay their debts to people and seek forgiveness on their behalf from anyone that they wronged or harmed
2. Repay their debts to Allah and any obligations of worship that they did not get to fulfill. These can include hajj and any obligatory fasts that they did not make-up, but excludes the obligatory prayers
3. Perform deeds that are an extension of the good that they inspired or taught themselves
4. Perform deeds that are specified in the sunnah that benefit them after their death
5. Perform deeds that are not specified but are of general good

04:15 Repaying debts to others

06:23 Repaying debts to Allah

08:22 Deeds that are an inspired extension of their good

09:46 Deeds specified in the sunnah that benefit them

Dr. Omar Suleiman

Dr. Omar Suleiman

President | Imam Dr. Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, and an Adjunct Professor of Islamic Studies in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Southern Methodist University.